This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
No one can love you
'Cause no one can free you
Lovers can't touch you
'Cause lovers might reach you, yeah
I'm so alone, so alone
But better than a wretched world
Better than a broken pearl
I'm so alone, so alone
Better than I ever was
Better than a just laid cause
Night may keep you sworn
May bring you storms
From chest to stern
The journey's blessed
The warnings circumspect
With dreams I've had
With dreams I've had
And still she's gone
And still she's gone
Night will fill your rest
Negate you best
With dreams I've had
With dreams I've had
Oh would I follow you
How could I have ever doubted you?
Sweet baby, nurture me
Sweet lady, if you please
Try the way on me
Try the way on me
Try the way on me
Just try the way on me
Try the way
Skirt the cliffs of your illusion
Find the faith on me
My mistake as the last remaining soldier
Was to take the place of you
Love the way
Love the way and learn
Try the way
Cast off your indecision
Face to face we breathe
Try the way
Cast off your indecision
Face to face we breathe
'Cause no one can free you
Lovers can't touch you
'Cause lovers might reach you, yeah
I'm so alone, so alone
But better than a wretched world
Better than a broken pearl
I'm so alone, so alone
Better than I ever was
Better than a just laid cause
Night may keep you sworn
May bring you storms
From chest to stern
The journey's blessed
The warnings circumspect
With dreams I've had
With dreams I've had
And still she's gone
And still she's gone
Night will fill your rest
Negate you best
With dreams I've had
With dreams I've had
Oh would I follow you
How could I have ever doubted you?
Sweet baby, nurture me
Sweet lady, if you please
Try the way on me
Try the way on me
Try the way on me
Just try the way on me
Try the way
Skirt the cliffs of your illusion
Find the faith on me
My mistake as the last remaining soldier
Was to take the place of you
Love the way
Love the way and learn
Try the way
Cast off your indecision
Face to face we breathe
Try the way
Cast off your indecision
Face to face we breathe
Lyrics submitted by elevatorface, edited by yamaz
Oceania Lyrics as written by William Patrick Corgan
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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I think that this song does, in some ways, conclude the "concept" portion of the album that began with Violet Rays and carried through Pinwheels.
1) Violet Rays was about the initial loss 2) My Love is Winter is about Billy's hardening/blame following the loss 3) One Diamond, One Heart is about healing/forgiveness through the selfless actions of another 4) Pinwheels seems like an acceptance, but not really a resolution. it's almost a delusional and carefree acceptance. 5) Oceania seems like a resolution... not that it is a happy one, but a realistic one.
The narrator realizes they are better off and accepts that love is still a journey that is going to have "dark nights", but as long as one stays the course they will eventually find truth and happiness.
The end of this is in the following lyrics:
Find the faith on me My mistake as the last remaining soldier Was to take the place of you Love the way love the way and learn
I feel like there is definitely something I'm missing, but I don't know what it is.
Part of me feels that I'm WAY off on Pinwheels. I'd love to hear other interpretations.
I don't think that this song in any way references the "old" Pumpkins. I don't think that any of this is directed at them, though, I could be wrong.
I think that because I just don't believe that Billy views the old Pumpkins as a "wretched world"... he wouldn't have taken out an ad in the Chicagoland papers trying to bring everyone back together if he viewed them in that manner (in my opinion).
Sidenote: Some of the solos/riffs in this song are absolutely awesome.
One more thing to add after thinking about it. Oceania is basically the Australlia and the surrounding areas. Billy's ex is from Queensland, which is in Oceania. <br /> <br /> (another reason why I highly doubt this song has anything to do with the ex-Pumpkins lineup. I think it's pretty solely directed towards his relationship with Jessica and it's the "full circle" ending to the 4 track concept that began with Violet Rays)